About

Do you imagine yourself designing living spaces, shopping spaces, or spaces for fun, leisure, and entertainment? Are you creative but yet detail driven? Do you want to influence the future of green design?

The East Carolina University interior design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), and the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). Our computer-aided design studios, professional mentoring program, and intensive internship experiences add up to state-of-the-art preparation for work in the diverse, competitive, and rewarding field of interior design. Recently recognized by Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) for their scholarship in design education, faculty in our program give students the opportunity to explore their passion for design while preparing them for their future career.

ECU Advantage

Interior Design students at ECU are actively engaged in their studies. Our students are working on projects that have real-world impacts from a North Carolina Indian heritage center to US Marine barracks that help heal our physically and emotionally wounded soldiers. With an expansive network of alumni to pull from, interior design students have a vast array of internship opportunities. And, upon graduation our students are linked to those that came before them to aid in their job search.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Amanda Muhammad (331-RW Rivers Building; muhammada22​@ecu.edu)

The interior design major is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Students can declare the interior design major upon completion of IDSN 1081, IDSN 1180, IDSN 1181IDSN 1200, and IDSN 1500, with a C (2.0) or higher; a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5; and an acceptable level of proficiency in studio work as shown in the portfolio review. Throughout the program, students must make a C (2. 0) or better in all IDSN major courses.

Portfolio Review: Upon completion of IDSN foundation courses, students submit portfolios which contain representative work from IDSN 1081IDSN 1181, and IDSN 1500. This work is evaluated by the interior design faculty, who recommend whether students are prepared to enter the professional-level interior design courses. Students who do not meet the level of proficiency needed for the professional-level courses have the opportunity to resubmit a portfolio a maximum of two additional times. Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee entry into the professional level. Admission to professional-level courses is competitive and limited.

Policy on Student Projects: The IDMR department reserves the right to retain, exhibit, and reproduce design projects submitted by students for class assignments for the purpose of complying with accreditation and program requirements. Work submitted for grades is the property of the department until it is returned to the students.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

  • MATH 1050 - Explorations in Mathematics OR
  • Choose 6 s.h. from:
    • ARTH 1905 - The Dimensions of Art
    • ARTH 1906 - Art History Survey
    • ARTH 1907 - Art History Survey
2. Core - 54 s.h.
  • IDSN 1081 - Drawing for the Interior Designer
  • IDSN 1180 - Interior Design Fundamentals
  • IDSN 1181 - Interior Design Fundamentals Laboratory
  • IDSN 1200 - Interior Design Seminar I
  • IDSN 1500 - Color and Light in Interior Design
  • IDSN 2101 - Interior Design Communication
  • IDSN 2102 - Interior Design Studio I
  • IDSN 2103 - Historic Interiors I
  • IDSN 2200 - Interior Design Seminar II
  • IDSN 2201 - Interior Design Materials and K&B
  • IDSN 2202 - Interior Design Studio II
  • IDSN 2203 - Historic Interiors II
  • IDSN 3101 - Interior Design Systems
  • IDSN 3102 - Interior Design Studio III
  • IDSN 3200 - Interior Design Seminar III
  • IDSN 3201 - Interior Design Professional Practice
  • IDSN 3202 - Interior Design Studio IV
  • IDSN 3203 - Interior Design Internship
  • IDSN 4102 - Interior Design Studio V
  • IDSN 4202 - Interior Design Studio VI
3. General electives to complete requirements for graduation - 26 s.h.
    For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.